Apparatus for elevating liquids.



G. F. BIHN & A. JONES.

APPARATUS FQR ELEVATING LIQUIDS APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1914.

1 ,1 9 1 ,493. Patented July 18, 1916.

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G. F. BIHN & A. JONES.

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICA 9H 1,191,493. I N FILED WM I Patented Ju1y'18,- 1916.

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- APPARATUS FOR ELEVATINGLIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY- 7, 1914.

1 ,1 9 1 A93 Patented July 18, 1916.

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WTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

GEORGE F. BIHN AND ALBERT JONES, OF PHTLADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916..

Application filed May 7, 1914. Serial No. 837,096.

'1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE F. BIIIN and ALBERT J ONES, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,

An object of our invention is to provide an apparatus of this type which is simple in construction and automatic in its operation.

Another object of our invention is to provide a controlling valve for a liquid elevating device, which valve simultaneously controls the exhaust of the air displaced within the pressure vessel by the incoming liquid and the admission of the pressure medium which serves to force the liquid from the said vessel when the latter has become filled.

These and other objects will be better understood by reference to the drawings and the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a pneumatic water lifting apparatus conveniently illustrating the application of our invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through our improved controlling valve. Fig. 3, is a plan section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the air exhaust ports.

Fig. 4, is a plan sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the compressed air inlet ports. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the float controlling the admission of compressed air into the apparatus.

' Briefly described, our improved apparatus comprises a closed pressure vessel for the liquid which is to be elevated. The air displaced by water entering this pressure vessel is permitted to escape through a valve which controls the admission of compressed air or other similar medium, to raise the liquor to the desired level. This valve is operated by a float adapted to be acted upon by the liquid in the vessel and causes the simultaneous closing of the exhaust ports and the opening of the compressed air ports.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a storage reservoir or receptacle for the liquid to be pumped. This '55 reservoir communicates with an inclosed tank or vessel 3 by means of a pipe 4, the

- which I rate of flow of the liquid from the tank 1 being controlled by an adjustable plug valve 5. This plug is attached to the lower end of a rod 6, which is guided in a bracket 7 secured to the inside of the tank. At its upper end, the rod 6 is pivotally attached to a lever 8, fulcrumed to a bracket 9 projecting from the wall of the tank. The outer end of the lever 8 is adapted to be adjusted vertically through the instrumen-' tality of the thumb nut 10 which is in threaded engagement with the pivoted stem 10 and bears against the lower face of the projection 11. The rate of discharge through pipe 4 may therefore, be accurately controlled by the manipulation of the thumb nut 9.

A check valve 12, is interposed in the pipe 7 4 to allow the passage of the liquid only in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the reason for which will become more apparent from the description of other parts which follows.

A vertical stand pipe 13 extends centrally through the cover 14 of the receptacle 3 to a receiving reservoir 15, to which the liquid is to be elevated. This pipe 13 terminates at its lower end near the bottom of the tank 3 and its upper end in a non splashing discharge nozzle 16. r

Leading from the opposite side of the cover 14 of tank 3 is an exhaust pipe 16' communicates with the tank 3 through a valve 17. This valve which is detailed in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, is bolted to a flanged opening 18 extending from the cover 14 and comprises a casing 19, to the top of which is bolted afitting 20 in which the ex haust pipe terminates. This-valve is provided with an upper valve seat 21 and a lower valve seat 22. The upper valve seat 21 is formed with an integral central boss 23, which is bored and serves as a guide for the stem 24 of the float 25 of the valve.

Surrounding the boss 23 is a plurality of exhaust openings 26, (see Fig. 3) which are controlled by the upper face of the float 25. As best seen in Fig. 5', this float is hollow and slightly. recessed at its upper face to afford a narrow peripherical ridge 27 which may be accurately ground so as to make a perfect air tight joint with the lower face of the seat 21 whenthe float 25 is raised to its upper position in a manner which will be later explained. The cavity in the float 25, is closed at the bot om by means of a plate 28, which is integrally formed with a central conical plug 29 which is adapted to cooperate with a similar opening 30 formed in the lower valve seat 22. This valve seat 22 is pierced by diametrical ducts 31 and 32, which terminate at their inner ends in the conical opening 80. Ducts 31 and 32 communicate respectively by means of p pes and 841 with a common supply pipe which may be connected with any convenient source of compressed air or any other medium under pressure. Valve seat 22 is also provided withopenings 36, 36, which practically surround the conical opening 30.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming the parts of the valve 17, to be in i the positions shown in Fig. 2, i. e. the supply of compressed air shut off by the conical plug 29. The liquid descending from reservoir l, as already explained, is accurately controlled by valve 5 and passes through pipe 4, into the inclosed tank or vessel 3. As the liquid displaces the air or gas within this tank, the air or gas is forced into the exhaust pipe 16 through openings 36 in seat 22, valve chamber 19, .and openings 26 in the upper valve seat 21. As the liquid rises and fills the tank, it passes through the openings 36 in valve seat 22, and into valve chamber 19, thereby raising float 25 which results in shutting off the exhaust ports 26, and per mitting the entry of the compressed air or other medium through the ducts 31 and 32 into the vessel 3. The action of this pressure upon the surface of the contents of the tank 8, causes the liquid to be raised within the stand pipe 13, and discharged through the non-splash nozzle 16 into the receiving reservoir 15. The force of the pressure exerted by the compressed air of course maintains the float 25 in its raised position and the check valve 12 in pipe 4, is also held closed for the same reason until the liquid has been entirely expelled from tank 3. When this point is reached, the compressed air begins to escape through the discharge nozzle 16, with a resulting decrease of pressure within tank 3 whereupon the weight of the float is suflicient to cause the same to drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2. The above operation is thereupon again repeated. It will be thus seen that we have provided a liquid elevating apparatus which is automatic in its action and simple in construction.

It will be seen that when the receptacle is filled, the liquid, when risingbeyond the uppermost part of the receptacle reaches the float of the air device. The combination of two compressed air pressures facing each other and the liquid forcing up against the bottom of'the float, causes the float to dislodge from its sealed seat of the apparatus. Without air pressure coming in through two port holes in the bottom seat of the air device, the liquids alone could not raise the float and without the aid of liquid the two air pressures could not lift the float. ll ith one port hole clogged or closed ofl, the device in conjunction with the force of the liquid on the float, refuses to lift the float. The combination of'liquid and air pressure and correct weight of float must be exact or the apparatus cannot operate. After the float seals the exhaust by means of the top seat, the liquid is forced from the device into the receptacle and the air pressure alone coming through the two port holes in the bottom seat of said device causes the float in its sealed position to stay in this position until the entire contents of liquid have been forced by the two air pressures through the discharge pipe to its destination.

l Vhen spent compressed air contained in the receptacle releases itself through discharge pipe of said receptacle and spent compressed air in the receptacle releases, so that the air pressure remaining in receptacle is equal to the weight of the float, the float immediately drops of its own accord to the bottom seat, closing off the two compressed air ports.

Although we have specified compressed air as the pressure medium, it is obvious that steam or any other gas could be used to accomplish the same ends.

We do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction herein shown since various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 7

1. In an apparatus for elevating liquids the combination of a vessel having an inlet and an outlet for the said liquid; a valve comprising an outlet port for the air displaced in the said vessel, and oppositely disposed ports for compressed air; a float adapted to be operated by the liquid in the said vessel for controlling the said ports, and having means extending between said inlet ports for compressed air, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for elevating liquids the combination of a vessel having an inlet and an outlet for the liquid; a valve comprising an exhaust port for the air displaced in the said vessel and oppositely disposed ports for compressed air; a float guided for movement between the saidports and adapted to be operated by the combined buoyancy of the liquid in the said vessel and the air pressure in said compressed air ports for controlling the said ports,'and having means extending between said inlet ports for compressed air, substantially as set forth.

8. A controlling valve for liquid elevating END apparatus comprising a float chamber; an upper valve seat forming the top of the said chamber; exhaust ports through the said upper valve seat; a lower valve seat forming the bottom of said chamber; a conical central port in the said lower seat, said conical port communicating through diametrical ducts with a source of compressed air supply; a float adapted for guided movement between the said seats, said float having a recessed upper face adapted to c06perate with the said upper valve seat and a conical plug adapted tocooperate with the central opening in the lower valve seat, substantially as shown and for the purpose de-.

scribed. I

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two sub- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

